Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D7/00—Bathing gowns; Swim-suits, drawers, or trunks; Beach suits
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D31/00—Materials specially adapted for outerwear
  • A41D31/02—Layered materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41F—GARMENT FASTENINGS; SUSPENDERS
  • A41F15/00—Shoulder or like straps
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D2500/00—Materials for garments
  • A41D2500/50—Synthetic resins or rubbers
  • A41D2500/52—Synthetic resins or rubbers in sheet form
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D2600/00—Uses of garments specially adapted for specific purposes
  • A41D2600/10—Uses of garments specially adapted for specific purposes for sport activities

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to shoulder straps for garments, especially (although not exclusively) suited to sports garments. Particular examples are described in relation to swimsuits, which is a preferred use. However, the concepts can be applied to other sports and athletic garments including, for example, water polo and triathlon wear.
• Athletes including swimmers, typically wear tight fitting garments which help decrease air/water resistance, which is especially important in competitive events.
• Many styles of sports garments including swimsuits, include shoulder straps that pass over the athletes shoulders when the garments is worn to help locate and hold the garment in place on the athletes body.
• a conventional shoulder strap construction for sports garments includes an elastic strap element around which a textile (usually the same textile used for the body of the garment) is wrapped to completely enclose the elastic strap element.
• the textile and elastic are typically stitched to secure this composite structure together.
• Straps having this conventional construction are typically quite bulky and are prone to twisting, buckling and curling when in position over an athlete's shoulder. This can lead to pinching, discomfort and sometimes visible markings on the skin.
• the modulus of elasticity that can be achieved for straps of this construction is limited, the straps therefore having a relatively high degree of stretch. This can lead to excessive stretching of the strap during athletic motion (e.g. swimming), which in turn can lead to movement of the strap across the skin that can cause chaffing.
• a higher modulus of elasticity could be achieved by using a stronger elastic but this would undesirably restrict the athlete's freedom of movement and would also exacerbate the pinching and discomfort caused by the strap as it is pulled more tightly against the skin.
• the invention provides a sports garment comprising a pair of shoulder straps, wherein each shoulder strap has a multi-layer construction, wherein at least one of the layers has a plurality of holes formed therein, the holes being spaced from one another along the length of the strap.
• the size of holes varies along the length of the strap in order to provide a variation in the elastic modulus of the strap along its length.
• the spacing of said holes from one another varies along the length of the strap to give this variation in elastic modulus.
• both the size and the spacing of the holes may vary along the length of the strap to give this variation in elastic modulus. Generally speaking holes that are larger or more closely spaced will result in a lower modulus of elasticity (i.e. greater stretch).
• the holes may have a maximum dimension across the hole (e.g. diameter in the case where the holes are circular, length of the longest side in the case where the holes are rectangular, etc) between 2mm and 18mm. That is, the smallest holes may have a maximum dimension of 2mm and the largest holes a maximum dimension of 18mm. In other embodiments, the maximum dimension of the largest holes may be greater, for example 20mm, 25mm, 30mm or more.
• the largest dimension of the hole may extend across the width of the strap, along the length of the strap, or at an angle to the width of the strap.
• the ends of the hole are spaced at least 2mm from the side edges of the strap and more preferably at least 3mm from the side edges of the strap.
• the longest dimension is preferably no more than 18mm.
• the spacing of the holes along the strap is between 5mm and 20mm, between 5mm and 10mm, or between 5mm and 6mm. "Spacing” refers to distance between a line extending width-wise across the strap through the centre of one hole to a line extending width-wise across the strap through the centre of the adjacent hole.
• the holes can be formed in any of the layers of the multi-layer strap.
• the holes are preferably formed in a layer having the highest elastic modulus as the inclusion of the holes will then have a greater effect (reduction) on the overall elastic modulus of the strap.
• the holes are in the top layer of the multi-layer strap construction.
• an underlying layer can be exposed, which depending on the nature of the exposed layer, may have performance and/or aesthetic benefits.
• At least one of the layers is an elastomeric substrate (e.g.
• elastomeric film such as a polyurethane (PU) laminate.
• the material of the elastomeric substrate e.g. PU
• the material of the elastomeric substrate may be selected to provide a barrier to water ingress and, as one of the layers in the structure, contributes to the lateral rigidity of the strap to resist buckling and twisting.
• the invention provides a sports garment comprising a pair of shoulder straps, wherein each shoulder strap has a multi-layer construction and at least one of the layers is a polyurethane (PU) laminate.
• PU polyurethane
• holes are formed in a top layer of the multi-layer strap and the polyurethane laminate is below the top layer so that it is visible through the holes in the top layer.
• the PU laminate can also provide aesthetic detailing to the strap, visible through the openings in the top layer.
• the top layer which may be a textile layer (for example formed from the same textile as the main body of the garment), may be secured to the PU layer with a glue layer.
• the glue layer may also include holes in register with the holes in the top layer, to ensure that the PU layer is exposed through the holes.
• the strap has a construction comprising at least five layers, which may be, in order, a first textile layer, a first glue layer, a polyurethane laminate layer, a second glue layer and a second textile layer.
• the strap has a construction comprising at least eight layers, which may be a first textile layer, a first glue layer, a polyurethane laminate layer, a second textile layer, a second glue layer, a third textile layer, a third glue layer and a fourth textile layer.
• the first textile layer and first glue layer may be wider than the other layers so that opposite sides of these layers can wrap around the side edges of the PU laminate layer, second textile layer, second glue layer and third textile layer and underneath the third textile layer.
• the third glue layer then adheres the fourth textile layer to portions of the first textile layer that wrap underneath the third textile layer.
• Opposite side edges of the first textile layer and first glue layer that wrap underneath the third textile layer may be spaced from one another so they do not fully cover the underside of the third textile layer.
• the third glue layer can then also adhere the fourth textile layer to the uncovered portion of the third textile layer.
• the textile layers will typically be a woven or knitted elasticated fabric and may be the same fabric that is used for other portions of the garment or the complete garment.
• the textile is preferably a resilient stretch fabric, with the textile layers in the structure contributing to the overall elastic modulus (the textile layers may be the biggest contributor to the elastic modulus).
• Some embodiments may employ a nylon/elastane woven fabric, with a relatively high elastane content (e.g. above 35%). This fabric is particular suited for swimsuits intended for elite athletes. Other embodiments may use a polyester fabric or other polymer fabrics (e.g. polypropylene), or even metallic or carbon fibres.
• a nylon/elastane woven fabric with a relatively high elastane content (e.g. above 35%).
• This fabric is particular suited for swimsuits intended for elite athletes.
• Other embodiments may use a polyester fabric or other polymer fabrics (e.g. polypropylene), or even metallic or carbon fibres.
• the textile will have a water repellent finish, especially for swimsuits, to help prevent the textile from taking on water and increasing mass.
• the main purpose of the glue layers is to hold together the layered structure of the strap.
• appropriately selected glues can also contribute to the elastic modulus of the overall strap construction through inherent elastic properties of the glue.
• the glue may be an ester polyurethane adhesive.
• the layers of glue within the strap construction may all have the same thickness, modulus and melt temperature as each other. Other embodiments could include varying thicknesses of glue, with corresponding variations in modulus.
• the glues can also have varying melt temperatures (the temperature at which the bonding process occurs).
• Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a swimsuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the swimsuit of fig. 1 ;
• FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of another swimsuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 4 shows a rear perspective view of the swimsuit of fig. 3;
• Figure 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, a cross-section through a shoulder strap of the swimsuits of figs. 1 to 4.
• Figure 6 shows an exploded view of a section of the strap of fig. 5.
• the swimsuit is a female suit intended for competitive swimming and is formed from an elasticated stretch fabric of a type known for use in competition swimsuits.
• the swimsuit is of a 'closed back kneeskin' type.
• the suit includes left and right leg portions 4,6 that extend down to the swimmer's knees and cover their thighs, a torso portion 10 that covers the abdomen and the back (extending up to the bottom of the scapula) and a chest portion 12 that covers the swimmer's chest.
• the suit has shoulder straps 2 that extend from the top of the chest portion 12, at spaced apart points on each shoulder, over the shoulder to a central point at the top of the back portion, between the scapula.
• FIGs. 3 and 4 a second exemplary swimsuit incorporating straps 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown.
• the suit of this example is very similar to the suit of figs. 1 and 2, save that in this example, the swimsuit is of an Open back kneeskin' type. As such, it has an open back region 14 (i.e. a region free of fabric) above the top of the glutes.
• the rear of the shoulder straps 2 has a cross-like form with strap portions 16 extending laterally and downwardly from the centre of the back between the scapula to join with the side of the chest portion 12 of the suit.
• Figs. 5 and 6 show the construction of the strap that is used in the swimsuit of figs. 1 and 2 as well as in the swimsuit of figs. 3 and 4.
• the strap is formed from eight layers, which from top to bottom are:
• the textile is 65% PA 35% Elastane.
• the glue is ester polyurethane.
• the laminate is a polyurethane film.
• the second glue layer bonds together the second and third textile layers.
• the first textile layer is wider than the second and third textile layers and PU laminate layer so that, as best seen in fig. 5, it can wrap around the edges of these layers to sandwich them together, with the first glue layer bonding the first textile layer to the top of the PU laminate layer and to the bottom of the third textile layer.
• the fourth textile layer is bonded to the underside of the sandwich structure, with a majority of this layer being bonded to the first textile layer where it wraps underneath the third textile layer, save for a central section, between opposite edges of the first textile layer, where the fourth textile layer is bonded to the underside of the third textile layer. This construction, as best seen in fig.
• the strap 5 can provide a channel on the underside of the strap, running longitudinally along a centre line of the strap. This may help to hold the strap in place on the wearer's shoulder as their skin keys into the channel, helping to prevent lateral slip. It may also help to resist curling of the strap.
• the first fabric layer on the top surface of the strap has formed in it a series of holes that are arranged in a longitudinal array along the length direction of the strap.
• the holes may have different spacings between them and/or be of different sizes to vary the stretch characteristics of the strap along its length. Regions of the strap with larger or more densely packed holes with have a lower modulus of elasticity (i.e. are more susceptible to stretch).
• the first glue layer has holes corresponding to those in the first fabric layer, so that the top surface of the PU laminate layer is exposed through the holes.
• the layered structure of the strap can be formed, for example, using a high temperature process to bond the layers together. Pressure is also applied to compress the layers of the strap and form a thin structure, which may for example be 1.2mm thick or less (e.g. 1 mm thick or less).
• the holes in the top layer of the strap can be formed by a laser cutting process.
• swimsuits illustrated in the Figures and described above are examples embodying inventive concepts described herein and that many and various modifications can be made without departing from the invention.
• the same concepts can be applied to other styles of swimsuit (for example, body suits for men, suits that have full-length legs and/or arms, etc) and to other types of sports garment, such as triathlon suits and waterpolo suits for example.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Citations (6)

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• 2014
  • 2014-08-22 GB GB1414947.0A patent/GB2529474B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2015
  • 2015-08-14 BR BR112017003468-9A patent/BR112017003468A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2015-08-14 WO PCT/GB2015/052361 patent/WO2016027069A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2015-08-14 CN CN201580051107.1A patent/CN107072343A/zh active Pending
  • 2015-08-14 AU AU2015305017A patent/AU2015305017B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2015-08-14 US US15/504,617 patent/US10588368B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2015-08-14 JP JP2017510642A patent/JP2017525866A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 2015-08-14 EP EP15753155.9A patent/EP3182851B1/en not_active Not-in-force

Patent Citations (6)

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